Mounting for cinematograph cameras



Dec. 5, 1944. s. HOWELL r 2,364,363

MOUNTING FOR CINEMATOGRAPH CAMERAS Filed April 9, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet l Ml f 1m Ql dme Howe.

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MOUNTING FOR CINEMATOGRAPH CAMERAS Filed April 9, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 mu/ENTOE lb 1 kmT-y,

MOUNTING FOR CINEMATOGRAPH CAMERAS Filed Apfil 9, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 [Alt EN 7-0/6 \j dner How e// w Dec. 5, 1944. s. HOWELL 2,364,363

MOUNTING FOR CINEMATQGRAPH CAMERAS I Filed April 9, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN ENTO/E, il d 97 I7 0 (1)8 k av %'y :operation or a na iiig efii tab Lother: ring is mounts v abou ve tical xi to s Patented Dec. 5, 1944 MOUNTING FOR CINEMATOGRAPH GAMER Perivale, England, asslgnor of one-half to Ealing Studios Sydney Howell,

Limited, London,

England, a British company 7 Application- April 9, 1942, Serial No. 438,221

In Great Britain 5 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved mounting for a cinamatographic camera.

, In the cinematograph art, particularly for the purpose of obtaining trick effects, it is already, ,known to mount a camera for swinging movementabout an axis which may be either horizontal or vertical. Hitherto, in the main, such axis has been more or less arbitrarily chosen relatively to the objective of the camera and, in some cases, the effect is not exactly that desired, since some -relative displacement may occur between the foreground and the background.

It has been found that if the camera is moved about an axis which passes through the nodal point of the objective, that is to say through the point of intersection of the light rays, this disadvantage is avoided.

One object of the present invention is to provide a mounting for a camera capable of rotary movement about more than one axis so that the camera may be quickly changed from rotary movement about one axis to movement about another axis without the necessity of using different mountings. Another object of the invention is to provide means for accurately adjusting the position of the camera so that the several axes all pass through the nodal point of the camera objective.

According to the present invention, the mounting for a cinematograph camera is so constructed that rotational movement may occur about one or more of three axes which intersect one another. Accordingto' a further feature of the invention, the mounting is capable of adjustment so that each'of the rotational axes passes through the nodal point of the camera objective.

In thisway, the camera operator may move the camera' aboutjany one axis 1 or may pass from rotary movement about one axis to movement aboutanother without interruption of camera v mea about two, or all three or he ,a s a. thev s m tim The means for; achieving the rotary movement of the camera" about .ajlt in'gitudinal axis cone ati ,m ve en d t fis' preferred' that the camera be mounted within the one ring for ro- "a lateral axis whilst the rotational movement p Va the third degree of ovement' tof th'e' camera; In such construction thecorrect positioning of the act to anyone axis is inded ustments' with respect to the oncentric rings adapted for April 30, 1941 once correctly positioned, the 55 as shown,

camera may be locked in its adjusted position and may thereafter be used as desired for photography whilst being moved about oneor more of the axes or normally forstraight photography with a stationary camera as desired.

The rotational movement' herein referred-to may be rotary in the one direction or the other direction or it may be a swinging or to and fro motion about the axis. a

The camera mounting is conveniently mounted on a movable stand which, in the known manner, may be extensible to elevate the camera to 'a desired height.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, a preferred constructional embodiment is hereinafter more fully described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration but not of limitation.

In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the camera,

its mounting and a suitable stand therefor,

Figure 2 is a rear elevation similar to Figure I,

scale, of part of the camera mounting,

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation taken on the line IVIV of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows, v

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation taken on the line V-V of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows, and

Figure 6 is a front elevation showing the elevating'means. v

Referring now to the said drawings, a cinematograph camera 6 of any desired known form or construction is mountedon a plate 2 movable relative to a base-plate 3 about a hinge 4 (Figures l and 6). The base-plate 3 is either fast with or, rotatably adjustable abouta vertical a-x'iswith respect to a slide ii which is movable horizontally relative to a counterpart 6' under control of a handle The-exactnature of the slide and the movement neednot'bemore fully described as it is similar to the work slideof a lathe} The'part 6 forms or ismade fast to a slide 8 *rnovable relative'to a base 'llg' under control of the camera base of a handle in, of thesame general construction and extending at right angles tothe slide arrange- :Iuent just described.

. base 9 'is supported inayframe' comprising a supporting tray jl i, side m'embersll and further from or nearer by the frame. Adjustment of the camera may aiiect the balance provided by the counterweight I! and therefore an adjustable counterweight Ila may adjustable counterweight Ha. is mounted for controlled movement about a horizontal axis so that it may be adjusted to project to a greater or lesser degree to bring its centre of gravity to the pivotal axis of the frame. Adjustment of the counterweight Ila may be effected by slackening and re-tightening the nut lib. The frame is pivotally mounted for movement about a lateral axis by pivots it, I! to a U-shaped cradle I. To control the movement of the frame relative to the cradle, at least the pivot I1 is provided with friction damping means It. Further to control the movement thereof, the side member i2 carries a segment 20 adapted to be engaged by a friction member 2| which may be adjustably engaged therewith under control of a handle 22. These'means may be employed to lock the frame relative to the cradle. The arrangement just Y described constitutes the first degree mounting for rotational movement about a lateral axis and also for the adjustment to position that axis accurately to pass through the nodal poiht of the camera objective. T

The cradle II is mounted within a ring 23, being supported therein by plates 24 with re additionally be provided. The

assesss Thestandlimaybeofgenerallyknown construction and the part 34 may be extensible relative thereto under hydraulic control and the stand may be provided with wheels 2| for the movement thereof and also with screwjacks 4| whenitisdesiredtokeepthestand stationary. Movement of the stand is facilitated by the handle "a.

It will be appreciated that the position for the camera so that the various axes will all pass through the nodal point of the objective cannot be calculated even if the stand were only intended for use with a particular camera, but the adjustment provided in the present construction not only enables a camera to be accurately positioned but, by reason of the ease of adjustment, the camera may be replaced or its lens system changed. The adjustment of'the camera will now be described. The camera is madefasttothe hingedplate2anditisthen adjusted'so that the axis of the pivots l2, l1 passes through the nodal point of .the objectiveof'the camera. The accuracyof this adspect to which it is adjustable. A hand-wheel 25 controls the telescoping of a threaded rod 28 into a member 21 carried by said ring 23, the end of which extensible member, by engaging the cradle It, moves the same in a vertical direction so that the side limbs thereof move relative to the plates 24. The cradle may be retained in adjusted position by locking the extensible member, although it is preferred that the limbs thereof be made fast to the plates 24 by locking rods 28, to which are connected handies 29. The ring 23 is arranged within another ring 30 so as to be co-axial therewith and with respect to which it is relatively movable round the common axis which is the longitudinal axis and is at right angles to the pivotal axis of the inner frame. The relative rotational movement is permitted by virtue of a plurality of rollers 3| mounted in cages 22 fast with the ring 3.. The 'rings may be freely movable, although means may be provided for checking or preventing such movement. Thus, for example, friction means may be provided or a clamp hav ing portions which lie one on each side of a roller may be placed on the ring 23 to lock that roller to prevent movement of the-inner ring 23 relative to the outer ring 3!. The rings 22 and i! constitute the second degree mounting which permits rotat onal movement of the camera about the longitudinal axis and the adjustable cradle 18 provides the means for adjusting that axis with respect to the nodal point of the objective of the camera.

The outer ring 38 is carried by a bracket 33 which is supported by a vertically extending member 34 capable of rotation about a vertical axis relative to a stand 35. The bracket 33 is laterally displaceable with respect to the part 34, being movable relative thereto by a toothed rack engaging a worm rotatable by the shaft 36 and handle 31. The movement need not be along a straight line but may be'along an archate path as indicated by the curved lines 38 which indicate the adjacent surfaces of the two relatively movable parts.

jufs'tment is tested by swlnglns the frame about its (the lateral) axis. If there is relative movement between the foreground and the background it will bean indication that the positioning is not correct. If it is thought that the nodal point is in front of or behind the axis,

the handle ll may be rotated to move the slide 2. The result is noted and brought as near '-perfection as possible. Error may still-be present as the nodal point may be above or below the axis and this is rectified by movement of the plate 2 about its hinge 4 which is effected by operating the handle 4| to rotate the worms 42 which are of oppodte pitch to cause the slides 43, 44 to move nearer together or away from one another and thereby move the arms 4! and to raise or lower the plate 2 relative to the base 2. If the result i. e. avoidance of relative movement between the foreground and the background is still not perfectly obtained, the camera may not be facing accurately, and this error may be corrected by rotating the base relative to the slide 5 about its axis. Once this adjustment has been made, all these adjustments may be locked, although this is not essential astthe construction is such that there is not a tendency for the parts to move. Whilst, for the purpose of description, a sequence of adjustments has been mentioned, it will be appreciated that the adjustments may be made in any other sequence as, of necessity, they are made by trial and error.

The camera is next adjusted for movement about the longitudinal axis. This is effected by rotating the ring 23 through when it maybe noted on the viewing screen that the foreground appears displaced with respect to the background of the same merely appearing turned around. Adjustments to displace the camera without affecting the adjustment alreadymade for movement about the lateral axis are eifected by moving the cradle relative to its supporting plates by means of the adjustment comprising the parts 25, 25, 21. By appropriate revolving of theinnerrhigreiativetotheouterfln .theadjnsiznentistestedandmadeasnearperfectas possible and, thereafter, to bring the nodal point of the objective to the intersection of the two axmandoompletetheadjushnenhthehandlelis operated to move the slide 5 to move the camera atzightanglestothemovementofthecradle during its adjustment. This adjustment again 2,364,803 does not affect the adjustment for movement about the lateral horizontal axis. After completion of the adjustment for the second degree of movement, the rings are adiusted for the third degree of movement.

This is effected by operating the handle 31 to *cause' movement of the supporting bracket-33.

The rings are swung backwards and forwards about the vertical axis and, if the foreground does not appear stationary relative to'the background, adjustments are made until immobility therebetween is obtained, at which time the three axes of movement will intersect as they all pass through the nodal point of the camera objective.

After completion of the adjustments, which need not necessarily be effected in the order .stated, the camera may be usedfor normal photography,the stand being moved backwards and 1 forwards, as desired. Then, when it is desired to swing the camera backwards and forwards about a' vertical axis, the rings are moved about that axis conveniently with the aid of handles 46 provided on the outer ringj30. If it is desired to swing the camera to and fro about the lateral axis, the handle 22 is operated to release the frictional grip between the parts 20 and 2| when the frame may be rocked about the axis of the pivots l8 and [1. To facilitate this operation, an operating handle 41 is provided, the shaft 48 of which is made fast to the member l2 of the frame desirably through a quadrant 49 which is adjustable relative to the member I! under control of a wing-nut 50..

During swinging about either the vertical or the lateral axis, the camera may bedisplaced at any desired angle to the vertical by a movement of the ring 23 relative to the ring 30 so that the shots are taken at an angle. When spinning of the scene is desired, the ring 23 .is continuously rotated relative to the ring 30.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that the mounting enables the camera to achieve many trick effects and special effects and to pass from one effect to another without interruption.

I claim:

1. A mounting for a cinematographic camera, comprising a stand, a first ring mounted on said stand for rotary movement about a first axis at right angles to the axis of said ring, a second ring coaxial with and supported by said first ring for rotary movement relative thereto about a secmm axis coinciding with the common axis of said rings, a cradle disposed in the cylindrical space defined by said second ring, means supporting said cradle on said second ring a frame supported on said cradle for pivotal movement relative thereto about a third axis at right angles to said first and second axes, and means for mounting a camera in said frame.

2. A mounting, as claimed in claim 1, including means supporting said first ring on said stand for adjustment relative to said first axis.

3. A mounting, as claimed in claim 1, in which said means for mounting said camera in said frame includes a first slide member mounted on said frame for displacement relative thereto in one direction, a second slide member mounted on said first slide member for displacement relative to the latter in a direction at right angles to that in which said first slide member is displaceable relative to said frame, a camera supporting plate hinged to said second slide member, and means to tilt said camera supporting plate to any desired extent within an angle of about 45 relative to said second slide member.

4. A mounting, as claimed in claim 1, in which said means for mounting said camera in said frame includes two cooperating members rotatable relative to one another about an axis at right angles to said third axis.

5. A mounting for a cinematographic camera, comprising a stand, a first ring mounted on said stand for rotary movement about a first axis at right angles to the axis of said ring, a second ring coaxial with and supported by said first ring for rotary movement relative thereto about a second axis coinciding with the common axis of said rings, a cradle disposed in the cylindrical space defined by said second ring, means supporting said cradle on said second ring for adjustment relative thereto in a direction which is parallel to said first axis when said second ring assumes a predetermined angular position relative to said first ring, a frame supported on said cradle for pivotal movement relative thereto about a third axis at right angles to said first and second axes, and means for mounting a camera in said frame for adjustment relative thereto in two directions substantially parallel to said second and third axes, respectively.

SYDNEY HOWELL. 

